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Weichai Auto Yingzhi 737 mini MPV hits the Chinese car market

Published on September 9, 2015 by Tycho de Feijter

The brand new Weichai AutoYingzhi 737mini MPV has been launched on the Chinese car market, and the super sonic 16-inch touch screen is for real! It is standard on the three top-spec variants of the 737, the cheapest of which is called the ‘Yingzhi 737 Internet Edition’. On the first photo the screen in action on that internet, showing, somewhat fuzzily, a car website with a photo of the MG GS SUV. But best of all is the classic cigarette lighter located right under the screen. Happily, some things never change.

The screen showing the control panel of the air purifying system, which is standard too. Other functions include: the aircon, navigation, permanent internet, telephone, television, games, a wifi hotspot, Bluetooth connectivity, and a music system.

The aircon control panel.

Price of the Yingzhi 737 starts at 56.800 yuan and ends at 99.800 yuan. The versions with the super screen start at 77.800 yuan. Normally, price for a minivan of this kind and size tops around 70.000 yuan, indicating the screen and additional hardware really don’t come cheap.

There is only one engine available: a 1.5 liter four-cylinder petrol with 113hp and 141nm, mated to a five-speed manual. And yes, even the super screen variants come with a manual only. A 1.5 turbo mated to CVT will become available later on. Oddly, on the cheapest base version the 1.5 has an output of only 102hp and 135nm.

The instrument panel comes with another small digital screen in the center, flanked by two analogue dials, surrounded by spacey blue stripes.

The base versions have this interior, which is still not bad at all.

Touch screen still big for the segment, and graphics are cool.

This however is a but weird; a very 1989 monochrome mini screen on top of the dash, with a clock and the outside temperature, and with little gray buttons to change the time! Wow.

This then, is the car itself. A fine looking mini MPV with daring knack in the window line on the passenger doors.

The Yingzhi 737 will compete with fine cars like the Baojun 730, the Xiaokang Fengguang, the Changan Ounuo, the Lifan Lotto, and the Weiwang M20. Many more Chinese car buyers living in the cities fall for the practicality of a mini MPV, choosing one over the standard sedan. The MPV’s seat seven plus a dog, don’t use much fuel, and are small enough to park anywhere.

Weichai Auto is a brand new car brand owned by Weichai Power (web), one of the largest Chinese engine makers and sponsor of the Ferrari F1 team. The company is based in Weifang, Shandong Province. Yingzhi is the brand name, called Enranger in English. Their first car, the Yingzhi G3, was launched in August last year.

Roof rails very usable, trendy taillights a tad too big.

Like all mini MPV’s the 737 is a ‘seven-seater’. Configuration is 2+2+3, but the rear bench is really only big enough for three very small children.

I normally don’t comment but I have to comment on the horrible build quality of that dashboard! Nothing fits properly, the material on the dash with the stitching does not fit tightly and looks so poorly done. Maybe people will overlook the quality issues by looking at the screen instead.